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April 9,1929. R ROGERS 1,708,554

BARREL HANDLING DEVICE Filed June 20, 1927 INVENTOR ia/Zv/f Wa 611i BY I ATTORNEY? Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES ROBERT J. ROGERS, OF, YAKIMA, WVASHINGTON.

BARREL-HANDLING DEVICE.

Application filed,.1'une 20, 1927.

This invention relates to barrel handling devices and has as one of its objects to provide a device that will eliminate the necessity of standing barrels on end preliminary to loading on a hand truck for movement from place to place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a barrel handling device whereby the barrel itself forms its own supporting and moving means.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a barrel handling device that by utilizing the relatively large diameter of the barrel as the vehicle, ascompared with a small diameter-ed wheel of a truck, reduces to a minimum the friction.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a barrel handling device equally eflieient for forward or rearward propulsion.

A further obj ect of the invention is. to provide a barrel handling device that may be utilized as skids on steep inclines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a barrel handling device that is simple and cheap to manufacture, and that is highly efficient in its operation.

With this and other objects in view, reference is now had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device, showing its application;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device with part of the handle broken away. showing the position of adaptation to the barrel;

Fig. 3 is anend elevation showing the position of the device when pulling the barrel.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing the relative position of the device with an inclined plane; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the device inverted and acting as skids.

Having reference to the drawings, like nunierals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 1 refers to a barrel, which may be of the drum variety as shown, wherein reinforcing bands 2 are placed about the drum, or of any cylindrically formed barrel or like package.

The device consists of a radially extending handle 3 comprising preferably a handle bar 4 and an extended member 5, the latter being attached to a cross member 6 with suitable braces 7 connecting the handle with other parts of the device, as the cross piece 8, the cross pieces in turn being attached to a claw 9 with which the handle is provided.

Serial No. 1959,2382.

The claw 9 comprises a pair of members 10 positioned to partly encircle the barrel near either end thereof and are held in spaced parallel relation by the above mentioned cross pieces and such others as may be necessary. Each claw member is formed to a partial, or imperfect circle and comprises fingers 12 and 13 respectively having like curvature preferably, of different centers to space the ends li of said fingers apart equaling the diameter of said barrel to provide for ase of mounting the device on the barrel, this action being shown in Fig. 2.

The fingers will be designated as forward and rear fingers respectively, the forward fingers 12 being positioned on the opposite side of the barrel. from the handle 3 and the rear 13 being positioned on the same side of the barrel as the handle, the lingers having a generally central juncture 15 formed at the meeting of the forward and rear fingers and due to the differentcenters.

The claw is made frictionless by attaching rollers thereto, one main roller 16 to the con tral juncture, and the forward roller 17 ant the rear roller 18 to the respective ends of the forward and rear fingers.

The rollers obviously are rotatable on the fingers and by their position, as above described, the main roller 16, positioned at the juncture point, will always contact the perimeter of the barrel, while the respective forward and rear rollers will Contact the barrel one at a time, depending upon the direction of propulsion, the forward roller 17 engaging the barrel as the barrel is propelled in the direction of the handle, at which time the rear roller 18 will be free, or conversely as the barrel is held in restraint in going down a slight incline ahead of the handle.

It will now be noted that with the respective rollers in contact with the barrel that the fingers carrying these particular rollers will be maintained concentric with the perimeter thereof, and this fact is taken advan tage of where the barrel is to be moved down a relatively steep incline, as shown in Fig. 5, the handle then being brought over the barrel to invert the fingers, which converts the forward fingers into skids, thus preventing too rapid a descent. V

This inverted position also permits of ease of movement of the device from or to the work, where the floor is rough or contains large cracks.

In use the device is placed over the barrel and the barrel is then moved to its destination by means of the handle the operator either pushing or pullingas may be required.

Where barrels are ofthe larger size it requires two men to raise them upon their end preparatory to getting them upon a truck for movement from place to place, and once mounted on the truck it is necessary to bal-- ance the barrel 011 the axle of the Wheel of the'truck, all this requiring exceptional ih'useular efl'ort,-ivhile this device supports no load, the barrel carrying its own load and resting on the ground, and rence the power reqhiiedis only that which is-necessar'y to overcome the inertia and to keep the barrel in motion, which, Witllthe natural friction bern removed by the rollers, and eliminating the necessity of lifting the barrel up onend,

reduces the labor incident "to moving to abear the same relationship to the plane on Which the barrel is being moved, hence it he'- comes obvious that, regardless or the" angle of incli ation, there is no danger of either roller at any time coming ineontaet with the surface on which the barrel is moved which n'iight interfere With the operation oi the device, should either roller encounter a rough 001'; This also accentuates the preference f claim 1. Ina barrel handling device, a radially extending handle, cross members carrying braces secured to said handle, a pair of nembers rigidly secured to said cross members and fo'rn'1'- dand positioned to encircle each end of said barrehea'clrof sald membe s terml Rating in identical oppositely positioned flngers adapted to receive and engage the barrel, and saidmembers and said fin er-s pro viding a skid and supporting means for the arrel when inverted. l

2; In a barrel handling device, radiallyextending handle, cross members carrying braces secured to said handle, a pair of themhers rigidly seetlred to said cross members and formed and positioned to encircle each endoi said barrel, each of said members ter- Ininating iii-identical oppositely positioned fingers adapted to receive dd engage the barrel, friction rollers mounted in aligned relation insaid fingers and said pair of members, and said members and said fingers providing a skid and supporting means for the barre when inverted. g

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ROBE L T J. Roost-rs. 

